The bout served as the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC 152 event at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.

As expected, the fighters came out at a frantic pace. Both landed some solid punches and low kicks, but Johnson had success with counter rights as Benavidez rushed in. Each defended takedowns and checked head kicks during the strategic opening frame, but Johnson did more damage with the counter shots.

Benavidez got through some solid punches early in the second round, largely because of relentless attacks after he opted to chase the elusive Johnson. The aggression paid off and allowed him to land a a two-punch combo and then a big right as the round came to a close. Benavidez then carried that strategy into the third round, but Johnson’s speed and footwork, as well as some effective takedown defense, left the fight essentially dead-even through three rounds.

In the championship fourth round, both initially attempted – unsuccessfully – for takedowns, but plenty of action followed. Benavidez briefly dropped Johnson with a right hand and then followed him to the mat. After moving to mount, he then attempted a single-arm guillotine choke, but Johnson escaped and worked a kneebar before Benavidez reclaimed top position. Johnson escaped and got a takedown of his own, and then another when Benavidez briefly returned to his feet.

In the pivotal fifth round, Johnson and Benavidez both showed no signs of slowing down. Johnson struck first with a big double-leg takedown and then a suplex before Benavidez escaped out of trouble. For the remainder of the round, Benavidez quickly got to his feet after takedowns, but he lost a step and simply couldn’t corral Johnson. “Mighty Mouse” ended the fight as the fresher competitor, but Benavidez had the slight edge through the middle rounds.

The scores could have gone either way. MMAjunkie.com scored it 48-47 for Benavidez, but only barely.

In the end, on the scorecards that actually mattered, Johnson earned the narrow split-decision win via 48-47, 47-48 and 49-46 scores.

Johnson admittedly was surprised it wasn’t a unanimous nod from the judges.

“I was a little shocked,” Johnson said. “In the standup, I felt like I got him here. … I took him down more. I got his back.”

Regardless, Johnson (16-2-1 MMA, 4-1-1 UFC) becomes the first-ever titleholder in the UFC’s newest division. The title run began with a decision victory over Ian McCall in the first round of the four-man championship tournament.

Benavidez (16-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), meanwhile, snaps a three-fight win streak, and the former WEC bantamweight title challenger suffers the first loss of his UFC career.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.